Photographer&#39;s lighting apparatus



July 21, 1936. A, E, UPP 7 2,048,013-

PHOTOGRAPHERS LIGHTING APPARATUS Filed July 22, 1955 2 Sheets-:Sheet 1 I 27 i 7 16 2532 INVENTOR:

agberifilzga Jul 21, 1936. I A. E. LlPP 2,048,013

PHO TOGRAPHERS LIGHTING APPARATUS Filed-July 22, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in photographers lighting apparatus for supplying light in making exposures.

An object of the inventionis to provide a novel and advantageous apparatus by means of which the desired light may be supplied to the image at the time the exposure is made and by means of which the camera shutter may be easily operated in proper timed relation to the light supplying means.

Another object is to provide a novel means whereby a plurality of. electric famps normally connected in series with a source of current may be connected in parallel with such source immediately before the opening of the camera shutter and returned to the normal seriesconnection immediately after the closing of the camera shutter.

Another object is to provide a novel apparatus in which the same lamps for supplying the light for the exposures, remaining'in the same positions, maybe connected in series with a source ofc'current for supplying the necessary light for focusing the camera and thereafter connected to such source in parallel for producing the brighter light for the exposures, thereby providing the same relative positions of the lights and shades on the" image during the focusing and the making of the exposure.

The electric lamps, hereinafter referred to, employed in my invention will burn for a very limited time when connected in parallel for supplying the'bright light; anda further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which .will utilize this limited time to the greatest extent in making exposures.

The invention resides in the novel construction, combination'and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and claimed.

, In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the 40 invention,

' Figure 1 is a side view of the casing of my improved apparatus, which contains the electric circuit'rnaking and breaking devices and camera shutter operating parts, showing portions of the parts leading therefrom, and showing, by dotted lines, theposition in which the casing is held in thehand of the photographer.

Figure 2 is a top view of the casing and parts 50 leading therefrom. I

- Figure 3 is atop view of the casing with the cover member and camera shutter operating parts removed therefrom. Figure4 is a longitudinal section through the casing on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a transversesection through the casing, on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the block for depressing the contact springs, and adjuncts, showing different positions of the block with re- 5 lation to the adjacent parts.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric lamps and the electrical connections thereof with the other parts of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates an 10 elongated, box-like casing or support formed of suitable electrical insulating material and comprising a bottom wall 3, side .walls 6 and l and end walls 8 and 9.

The end wall 9 has a hole therein through 15 which one end portion of an electrical cord or cable l0 enters the casing 2. This cord or cable contains two wires I I and I2 which are electrically insulated from one another and which lead from a suitable source of electric current supply. 20 The end portions of the wires II and I2 within thecasing 2 are electrically connected to two laterally spaced terminals l3 and I4 by means of binding screws l5 and I6, respectively. These terminals l3 and I4 are secured upon a block or 25 panel I! of insulating material which rests upon the bottom wall 3 and fills the lower portion of the casing and is secured therein by means of a screw 3 which extends through the wall 3 an enters the panel.

The terminals l3 and I4 are connected to and form extensions of the ends of flat metal contact springs l9 and 20, respectively, which extend longitudinally within the casing 2 in parallel, spaced relation and have their end portions adjacent to the terminals l3 and I4 secured to the bottom panel 3 by means of screws 2|. These contact springs l9 and 20 are alike in construction and they extend upwardly from the screws 2| and over a block 22 on the panel II. The block "supports the secured end portions of the springs l9 and 20 which extend from the block through the major portion of the casing toward the end wall '8 thereof. The springs l9 and 20 are provided with lower arms 23 and 24 formed integrally therewith and bent to extend back towardthe, block 22 and downwardly toward the panel IT. The arms 23 and 24 terminate in advance of the block 22 and, after extending downwardly toward the panel, they are turned upwardly, providing the arms with end portions having rounded bottom bearing surfaces. The rounded end portion of the arm 23 of the spring 19 bears upon the top of the panel l1, and the rounded end portion of the arm 24 of the spring 23 bears upon the top of a metal plate 25, hereinafter referred to, which is carried by the panel l1 with its upper surface flush with the adjacent upper surface of the panel upon which the arm 23 of the spring l9 bears, and which has one of its end portions extending between the panel 1 and the terminal H in electrical contact with the latter.

The free end portions of the springs l3 and 23 extend beneath and beyond stop plates 23 and 21, respectively, and they are pressed upwardly by their own resiliency and the resiliency of their downwardly and rearwardly extending arms 23 and 24 and they rest normally in contact with the stop plates 26 and 21 from which they may be depressed, as will be hereinafter explained.

The portions of the springs l3 and 23 which extend beyond the stop plates 25 and 21 toward the end wall 3 are connected by a bar or plate 23 of insulating material having its end portions secured to the springs to maintain the free end portions thereof in proper lateral spaced relation and to give stability thereto and to cause them to be operated as a unit.

The stop plate 21 serves merely as a stop for limiting the upward movement of the contact spring 23 and it extends inwardly from and forms a continuation of the upper end of a plate 23 (Fig. which rises from one side of the panel 1 and has its lower end portion bent inwardly and held in place between a block 33 of insulating material and the plate 25 hereinbefore referred to. The block 33 is secured to the top of the end portion of the panel H which is adjacent to the end wall 3 of the casing.

The stop plate 26 for the contact spring i9 forms the upper contact part of an electrical conducting plate 3| which extends downwardly from the outer end of its contact part 25 to the side of the panel l1 opposite to the plate 23 and thence inwardly between the top of the panel and the bottom of the block 33 secured thereon, and thence upwardly through a centrally located slot in the block, and thence over the top of the block to a position beneath the free end portion of the contact spring 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and the lower free end portion of the plate 3| forms a contact part 32 to be engaged by the free end portion of the spring 23 to close a circuit when the springs l9 and 23 are depressed, as will be hereinafter explained.

Secured upon the block 33, at one side thereof, is a contact plate 33, one end portion of which extends beneath the free end portion of the contact spring l9 (see Figs. 4 and 5). The upper surface of the contact plate 33 is in the same plane with the upper surface of the lower contact part 32 of the conducting plate 3|, so that when the springs I9 and 23 are depressed as a unit from the normal position illustrated in the drawings to move their free end portions into contact with the parts 33 and 32, respectively, the electrical connection between the spring l3 and the conducting plate 3| will be broken and electrical connections between the springs l3 and 23 and the plates 33 and 32, respectively, will be established, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The end wall 8 of the casing 2 has a hole therein through which one end portion of an electrical cord or cable 34 enters the casing. This cord or cable 34 contains three wires 35, 35 and 31 which are electrically insulated from one another and which extend from the end of their common covering within the casing, the wire 35 is electrically connected to the contact plate 33 by means of a screw 33, the wire 33 is electrically connected to the end portion of the plate 25 remote from the terminal l4 by means of a metal screw 33 which extends through the block 33 and is screwed into the plate, and the wire 31 extends down into an 5 opening 43 formed in the block 33 and panel l1 and is electrically connected to the conducting plate 3| by means of a metal screw 4| which extends upwardly from within theopening 43 and through the wall of the panel i1 and is screwed into the plate 3|.

Hingedly connected to the top of the end wall 3 of the casing is a cover member 42 which extends from the wall 9 to the region of the free ends of the contact springs l9 and 23. This member covers the contact springs and is provided with downwardly extending side flanges 43 which embrace the springs and are arranged between and in close proximity to the side walls 3 and 1 of the casing.

The cover member 42 carries a block 44 of insulating material which is located between the flanges 43 and rests upon the contact springs l3 and 23. The block 44 and member 42 are so related to the contact springs that when the casing 2 is grasped in the hand of the user of the device with the thumb resting upon the member 42, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the thumb may be depressed to depress the member and thereby cause the block 44 to depress the contact springs l3 and 23 into contact with the contact parts 33 and 32, respectively, beneath them.

The block 44 is provided with an upwardly extending rib 45 which is fitted to slide in a longitudinal slot 43 in the member 42, and the block 44 is slidably held in place by a plate 46 which is secured to and extends outwardly from the rib 45 and is fitted to engage the top surface of the member 42. The lower portion of the block 44 has a blade or flange 41 formed thereon and proiecting therefrom toward the casing end wall 3. This blade is adapted to be moved into a position above the stop plates 23 and 21 or into a position below the same by moving the block 44, for purposes presently appearing.

The block 44 rests normally in the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein the contact springs II and 23 rest in contact with the stop plates 23 and 21, respectively, and wherein the member 42 may be depressed to break electrical contact be-- tween the spring i3 and plate or part 25 and to make electrical contact between the springs l3 and 23 and the contact parts 33 and 32, respectively. When the springs 9 and 23 are depressed slightly and the block is moved toward the end wall 8 to move the blade 41 into a position betweenthe springs and their stop plates 25 and 21, as shown in Fig. 6, the blade 41 will prevent the spring l9 from making contact with the contact part 26 and yet will permit the member 42 to be depressed to depress the springs l9 and 23 into contact with the contact parts 33 and 32, respectively; and when the member 42 is raised slightly and the block 44 is moved to move the blade 41 into a position above the stop plates 26 and 21, the stop plates will be engaged by the blade which will thereby prevent the member 42 from being depressed to operate the contact springs l3 and 23.

Hingedly connected to the free end of the member 42 and extending therefrom over and beyond the free ends of the contact springs I3 and 23, and forming, in effect, a continuation of the member 42 is a camera shutter operating part or plate which is movable by and with the memhead 49 'is moved toward the head 1 against the actlon of a spring to operate the camerashutter in the usual manner, and, afterthe head 49 has been so moved and thereafter released, the spring willjsreturn it to theposition shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be understood that the part 48 maybe depressed to depress the head for the operation of a camera shutter. Theend portion of the tubular member 52 extends, through a holeor opening 58 in the bottom wall 3 of the casing 2, the panel l1 and the block 38: therein, and the head 5| on the member 52 rests'upon the block 89 and supports the headj5l and the end portion of the tubular member 52 carrying the same. The block 38 and the panel l1 an'd casing wall 1 areprovided with a passage 55 which extends laterally from the hole or opening 53, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and through which the tubular member 52 may be moved into or from within the opening 58, and the parts of the member 52, a little distance from the head 5|, are small enough in diameter to permit the member-to be passed through the passage 55 into and from within the opening 53 while the parts'of the head or member 5| below the collar 54 and located within the" opening 53 is larger in diameter thanthe space between the opposing walls of the passage 55, so that such walls will retain the member 52 and head 5| in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, after the member 52 has been passed through the passage and the head 5| has beenlowered to bring the collar 54 into engagement with the top of the block 89.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the conductor or wire 35 which leads from the contact plate 33 is con-- nected to two branch wires 55 and 51 which, in turn, are connected to one side of two sets of electric lamps 58 and 59, respectively; and connected to the opposite sides of the two sets of lamps 58 and 59 are two branch wires 50 and 5| which form continuations of the wires 81 and 35 leading from the conducting plates 8| and 25, respectively. p

The branch wires 55 and 58, leading to the set oflamps 58, are interrupted by a plug-and-socket connection, indicated at 5| by dotted lines, and the branch wires 51 and 5|, leading to the set of lamps 59, are interrupted by a plug-and-socket connection, indicated at 52 by dotted lines; the sockets of these connections are mounted on a common block, indicated at 63 by dotted lines. and the plugs of the connections are connected tothe branch wires which lead to the two sets of lamps. This construction provides a convenient arrangement for connecting, and ,disconnecti'ng the several parts and enables me to use a common cord or cable for the three wires 85, 89 and 81 leading from the casing 2 to the'block 58, and two cords or cables which are detachable from the block 53 for the two pairs of branch wires 55, 59 and 51, 5| which lead to the two sets oflamps 58 and 59, respectively.

The two sets of lamps 58 and 59 may be placed inany suitable positions for producing the desired light on the person or persons or object or objects to be photographed, and any number of.

lamps may be used in each set in accordance with the light desired. I have found 100 watt, 64 volt lamps to give very good results when my invention is used on the usual commercial 110 volt A. C. current. i

7 It will be observed that when the contact making and breaking devices in the casing 2 are in the normal position, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 8, the wire 85 is dead and the wires 31 and 38 are connected to the terminals l8 and M, respectively, and the lamps 58 and 59 are connected in series with the source of current. It will also be observed that when the contact springs l9 and 29 are depressed into contact with the contact parts 88 and 82, respectively, the connection of the wire 31 with the terminal |8 will be broken and the wire 85 will be connected to the terminal l3 and the wires 85 and 81 will beconnected to the terminal l4, thereby connecting the lamps 58 and 59 in parallel. 4

When the apparatus is in service, the sets of lamps are placed in position for the desired light, wires II and I2 are connected toa source --of current and the casing 2 is held in the hand of the photographer, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, with the camera shutter operating parts in the positions there shown, and the free end portion of the thumb of the hand holding the casing 2 resting lightly upon the adjoining end portions of the member 42 and part 48 and crossing the hinge connection between them, as illustrated. When the photographer is ready to make the exposure, he first uses his thumb to depress the member 42 until the contact springs l9 and 29 make contact with the parts 83 and 82, respectively, and thereby connect the lamps 58 and 59 in parallel and increase the brilliancy thereof for the exposure; and, while this is being done,

a rocking action of the thumb prevents it from depressing thepart 48 and therewith the head 49 sufliciently to trip or operate the camera shutter to which the rod 50 is operatively connected. After the member 42 has been fully depressed, a reverse rocking action of the thumb depresses the part 48 and perforce the head 49 and operates the camera shutter to make the exposure while the lamps 58 and 59 are connected in parallel; and, immediately thereafter, the pressure of the thumb upon the part 48 and member 42 is released and the parts are all permitted to return automatically to the normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, thereby returning the series connection to the lamps. Thus it will be understood that the lamps 58 and 59 are connected in parallel, for .the supply of the bright light only for a very short interval of time which is slightly in excess of the time required for the exposure.

It is 'well known that camera shutters as operated by the depression and release of the head 49, may be set so that the shutter will automatically close after the depression of the head 49 opens the same, or so that the depression of the head will open the shutter and it will remain open until the pressure on the head is removed and it is permitted to rise automatically under the control of the photographer. Therefore it will be understood that in either, the member 42 and part 48 may be manipulated to have the lamps 58 and 59 connected in parallel while the shutter is open.

The advantage of moving the block- 44 to the position shown in Fig. 6 is that, in this position, no current at all will be supplied to the lamps ll and 59 except when the member I! is depressed to connect the lamps inparallel, thereby eliminating the series connection for the lamps; and the advantage of moving the block to the position shown in Fig. 7 is that, in this position, the member 42 can not be depressed to connect the lamps in parallel but the part ll can be depressed to operate the camera shutter for a properly timed exposure while the lamps are connected in series.'

I claim:

1. In a photographer's lighting apparatus, the combination of a support having terminals for connection with a source of electric current, two spring contact arms connected to and extending from said terminals and adapted to be depressed from a normal position to a circuit closing position, a member movable relatively to the support and provided with means to move said arms from said normal position to said circuit closing position and having a movable camera shutter operating part associated therewith, a plurality of electric lamps, and electrical conductors related to said arms to connect said lamps in series with said terminals when said arms are in said normal position and to break said series connection and connect said lamps in parallel with said first and second named position, a member movable relatively to the support and provided with means to move said arms from said normal position to said circuit closing position and to said intermediate position and having a movable camera shutter operating part associated therewith. a plurality oi electric lamps, electrical conductors related to said arms to connect said lamps in series with said terminals when said arms are in said normal position and to break said series connection when said arms are moved from said 20 normal position and to connect said lamps in parallel with said terminals when said arms are moved to said circuit closing position, and a stop device movable to and from a position preventing the return of said arms to said normal position 25' after being moved to said intermediate position.

ALBERT E. LIPP. 

